Locals seize 2 truckload of documents while dumping in Barishal

Locals in Barishal seized two trucks carrying old documents from the Department of Education and Engineering on Friday night.

The documents, reportedly destined to be burned, were intercepted at Kagasura Bazar in Charbaria Union near Barishal city, raising questions about why they were being taken to a riverbank instead of a designated dump site.

The incident occurred around 8:00pm on December 27. Locals, suspicious of the unusual activity, stopped the trucks and questioned the drivers. According to witnesses, the recent fire at the secretariat, which destroyed many important documents, heightened concerns about the contents of these trucks.

Locals Alert Authorities

Upon stopping the trucks, the drivers claimed the documents were old government papers meant for burning. However, locals were not convinced and alerted the police.

The truck drivers said that the documents were loaded at the Department of Education and Engineering’s office. Executive Engineer Md Shahidul Islam later confirmed this, explaining that the documents included photocopies of schedules collected since 1992.

According to Engineer Shahidul Islam, the documents were supposed to be sent to a garbage dump for disposal after obtaining clearance from higher authorities to free up office space.

However, the hired workers deviated from the plan, reportedly attempting to sell the papers elsewhere.

“When the public intervened, the documents were recovered with police assistance and brought back,” he said.

Shahidul Islam acknowledged that while old goods can be sold through auctions, government documents are not subject to the same rules and must be destroyed by burning. He added that a decision on the next steps would be made after consulting the district administration.

The incident has sparked concern among locals, given the lack of transparency in the disposal process. Many questioned why the documents were being transported to an isolated riverbank rather than a proper dump site, fueling speculation about potential misconduct.

As authorities investigate, the situation underscores the importance of clear and accountable procedures for handling and disposing of sensitive government documents.